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Gloucester released a statement saying Fearns was still expected to join, but after the two clubs came to a compensation agreement it was confirmed this week that the 28-year-old had signed a new three-year deal with Lyon.

Many Gloucester fans weren't happy, to say the least, that the player who made the most carries in the French league and scored more tries than any other forward last term, would not be playing at Kingsholm.

Fearns, an engaged father-of-three, received numerous angry messages on Twitter before sending this Tweet...

In an interview with Gloucestershire Live , Cherry and Whites CEO Stephen Vaughan said they knocked back several approaches from Lyon until it became clear Fearns no longer had his heart set on joining the club.

They eventually secured “significant compensation”, which will be used to strengthen the squad.

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"I have never known anything like this. It’s unprecedented for a club to sign somebody that has already been released by them.

"Lyon were fully aware he was coming to Gloucester, then they put in a massive bid months after."

Carl Fearns in his Bath Rugby days (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Fearns replied on Wednesday evening: "I am genuinely amazed by the notion that people with a bit of grey matter between their ears have taken it upon themselves to decide that my ONLY motivation for remaining in France was financial.